JULY 1, 2023 - JUNE 30, 2024
NEW HAMPSHIRE PBS MAKING AN IMPACT
For the past year, New Hampshire PBS has been dedicated to making a real impact in your communities. We’ve listened to librarians, lawmakers, teachers, parents and business owners to understand how we can best serve you. Our goal is to be a catalyst for new ideas, community connection and civic engagement through compelling, relevant and meaningful programs and educational services.
Our Mission in Action:
We’re much more than just television. We’re also a multimedia resource—online, over-the-air, and in-person—actively working to meet your community’s needs. Here’s how:
• In-depth conversations: We bring you point-counterpoint discussions on THE STATE WE’RE IN, exploring the issues that matter most to you.
• Unique local stories: OUR HOMETOWN shares the one-of-a-kind stories that define local cities and towns.
• Empowering educators: PBS LEARNING MEDIA provides a rich library of FREE curriculum-aligned videos, interactives and lesson plans for teachers.
• Strong partnerships: Collaborations with NHPR, NH Humanities and NH Civics amplify important interviews, facilitate critical discussions and bring diverse voices to the forefront.
Growing for the Future:
We’re committed to continuous growth and have exciting plans for the coming year. Building on our current impact, we will:
• Keep you informed: Through PBS and local journalism, we’ll keep you connected to the world and the Granite State.
• Inspire learning: Our online and interactive educational services will continue to inspire students and teachers.
• Showcase New Hampshire: The stories of New Hampshire will continue to take center stage, celebrating our communities and our people.
New Hampshire PBS is your PBS station. We’re dedicated to serving you and strengthening our communities. We are New Hampshire PBS.
Peter A. Frid NHPBS President & CEO
“We love how to see how smart the kids are. Congrats to all of them!”
— Gabrielle S.
NHPBS CHALLENGES THE MINDS OF GRANITE STATE STUDENTS
The 42nd season of GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE premiered February 8th on New Hampshire PBS. In the inaugural match, Belmont High squared off against reigning champion Merrimack High. But months earlier, 32 hopeful high school teams convened at Plymouth Regional High school to take a written qualifying test. The 14 teams achieving the highest scores on the test advanced to the televised rounds. Additionally, four teams were chosen at random to compete in two non-televised wildcard games.
In the record-breaking GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE championship game, Merrimack High defeated Plymouth Regional High for the second year in a row. This was a record-breaking game. Both teams had three titles going into the game. Merrimack High School previously won the GSC championship in 2020, 2021 and 2023, and Plymouth Regional High was the GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE champion in 1996, 2013 and 2019. This was also the seventh time competing in the final game for each of the teams.
GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE is a high school quiz show that features some of New Hampshire’s brightest students competing in math, science, social studies, language arts and fine arts. The show also includes questions about current events, entertainment, sports and New Hampshire and is hosted by Bow High School teacher Jon Cannon.
Unitil has been a sponsor of GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE since 2015 and sees the competition as a way to support education and STEM initiatives in the state.
“There aren’t a lot of opportunities for academics to represent their school in a competitive format, and that’s what we see in GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE,” said Alec O’Meara, external affairs manager at Unitil.
“When the competition is close, and it’s getting down to the final two or three minutes of the championship game, and victory is within reach, there’s the same sort of tension in the room that you would associate with a close basketball game,” said O’Meara. “There’s anxiety, and there’s relief, and there’s joy, and it’s wonderful to see.”
For more information on GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE, visit nhpbs.org/gsc or watch on the PBS App.
“I
just watched the Berlin, NH, production and was so excited to see the section not only about the revitalization of Berlin but also about Pokey Paulsen.”
— Lisa O.
“NHPBS SHINES A LIGHT ON BERLIN
For over 150 years, paper mills fueled Berlin’s economy and shaped its character. Immigrants from diverse backgrounds built the city, working in the mills, logging the forests and contributing to a thriving community. In this episode of OUR HOMETOWN, you’ll find an assortment of stories that capture the essence of “The City that Trees Built.”
The demolition of the mills in 2008 marked the end of an era but not of the spirit of Berlin. Viewers discover that the community rallied and embraced the opportunity for reinvention. Storyteller Joan Merrill shared her love of The Northern Forest Heritage Park, a testament to Berlin’s logging past, which came alive with celebration, thanks in part to the Androscoggin River’s scenic backdrop.
More OUR HOMETOWN stories focus on Berlin’s deep love for sports, from Hockey Town USA’s first all-female team to skiing and ski jumping. Music, too, plays a vital role in Berlin, echoing the traditions of the logging camps and enriching the lives of generations. Local musician Shawn Marquis shared his story on how music runs deep in his large, talented family.
The half-hour special features nine stories and can be watched online at nhpbs.org/hometown/berlin and on the PBS App. The remaining OUR HOMETOWN BERLIN stories are streamed online.
Support for OUR HOMETOWN BERLIN is provided by Road Scholar, Eversource, White Mountain Paper Company and Badger, Peabody & Smith Realty.
NHPBS TACKLES AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS
New Hampshire and much of the nation has a housing crisis. The Granite State is short at least 23,500 homes to meet the current demand. That means tens of thousands of NH residents are struggling to find affordable and inviting housing in their communities. New Hampshire PBS hosted two new COMMUNITIES AND CONSEQUENCES in-studio specials in partnership with JBC Communications.
Hosted by Sarah Wrightsman, who is the Manager of Community Engagement and Education for New Hampshire Housing programs, the programs focus on New Hampshire towns and cities to better understand the process and the associated risks, challenges and opportunities to creating more housing. We assembled some of the brightest minds and stakeholders from local communities to address concerns residents have and to talk through the process of getting more housing built in cities and towns throughout New Hampshire.
Studio guests included Kevin Lacasse, CEO of New England Family Housing in New Hampton, Evelyn Whelton, founding board member of the Mount Washington Valley Housing Coalition and who also serves on the board of directors for New Hampshire Housing, Rob Taylor, Land Use and Community Development Administrator for the town of Enfield and Harrison Kanzler, executive director of AHEAD, Affordable Housing Education and Development.
Stream all of the COMMUNITIES AND CONSEQUENCES shows at nhpbs.org/communitiesandconsequences.
“Thank you, New Hampshire PBS and JBC Communications for co-producing this important program exploring the critical housing challenges faced by NH communities.”
— Evernorth
NHPBS GETS SMARTER ABOUT GETTING OLDER
As the second oldest state in the nation, (according to the US Census, 20% of NH residents are 65 plus) and with adults living longer than ever before, there are a wealth of new questions and opportunities facing New Hampshire residents. What’s the best way to stem social isolation? How do you plan for the future? There are more options than ever before.
Seniority Authority, a locally produced podcast that explores age-related topics like these, has now joined the broadcast lineup on New Hampshire PBS with a televised half-hour program. SENIORITY AUTHORITY: SECRET TO A HAPPY LIFE launched on NHPBS with featured guest Dr. Robert Waldinger, director of Harvard’s Center for Adult Development, who has conducted Harvard’s 70+ year-long study about leading a long and healthy life.
The Seniority Authority podcast was created and hosted by Cathleen Toomey of the RiverWoods Group, the largest family of charitable nonprofit continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) in New Hampshire. As vice president of marketing for RiverWoods, Toomey found herself frequently fielding questions about aging and, in 2021, began a podcast interviewing national experts.
The podcast caught the interest of Dawn DeAngelis, Vice President and Chief Content Officer at NHPBS, and she approached Toomey with the idea of partnering with video. “This content is exactly what our viewers are interested in, and we are excited to bring this valuable information to the NHPBS audience. We are thrilled that the pilot episode will be distributed to PBS stations nationwide,” said DeAngelis.
“There are so many aspects of aging that people don’t understand or have outdated assumptions about,” said Toomey. “SENIORITY AUTHORITY is designed to give people practical and up-to-date information they can use today to help plan for a robust life in the future. The NHPBS audience has been so receptive to this information.”
The broadcast program offers a combination of expert interviews and feature segments profiling three people in the community. The overall goal is to offer actionable suggestions, allowing viewers to get smarter about getting older.
NHPBS and Toomey hope the program reinforces that the aging process is universal; everyone ages and witnesses family members or friends as they age. Furthermore, U.S. culture tends to be youth-centric and SENIORITY AUTHORITY aims to shift this perspective by highlighting the contributions of the older population and gently reiterating how aging is a gift.
Catch the new SENIORITY AUTHORITY program online at nhpbs.org/seniorityauthority or the PBS App.
“I just love this!” — Martha M. “
“What an uplifting evening!”
— GOSPEL event attendee
NHPBS CELEBRATES HISTORY IN SONG
The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, The New Hampshire Center for Justice and Equity and New Hampshire PBS celebrated the new PBS series GOSPEL with a free screening at the Currier Museum of Art. Over 100 people came out to view a screening of the new series from acclaimed scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
This electrifying, interactive evening explored Black spirituality through sermon and song on the national and New England stage, the historical significance of Gospel and the emergence of Gospel choirs. Performances by The Higher Praise Music and Arts Gospel Choir from Boston and The Choral Majority from the Merrimack Valley led the audience to new musical heights.
From the blues to hip-hop, African Americans have been the driving force of sonic innovation for over a century. Musical styles come and go, but there is one sound that has been a constant source of strength, courage and wisdom from the pulpit to the choir lofts on any given Sunday: gospel.
The entire GOSPEL series can be streamed online, anytime, anywhere on the PBS App.
A Collaboration of The Black Heritage Trail of NH, The New Hampshire Center for Justice & Equity and The Currier Museum of Art.
NHPBS HIGHLIGHTS CLIMATE SOLUTIONS
Strong storms and flooding in 2023 brought millions of dollars worth of damages and personal losses to people across New England. As towns and cities rebuild, it’s imperative that we undertake those efforts together as we plan for the future. What can we learn from this moment about mitigating the effects of and adapting to an already changing climate?
In April, New Hampshire Public Radio, in collaboration with New Hampshire PBS, hosted the second annual BY DEGREES CLIMATE SUMMIT at the University of New Hampshire in Durham. Close to 100 people came out to engage with two panels hosted by Morning Edition host Rick Ganley and All Things Considered host Julia Furukawa.
The BY DEGREES CLIMATE SUMMIT focused on solutions people can work toward with their neighbors and communities and explored how people can make the necessary changes. Climate Desk reporters Rebecca Hersher (NPR) and Mara Hoplamazian (NHPR), as well as other regional climate journalists and change-makers from across the region, explored climate resiliency responses that address more than just our environment — solutions that could change the way we live and where we invest our time, energy and resources.
The BY DEGREES CLIMATE SUMMIT 2024 was live-streamed with closed captioning, and its recording was later broadcast and distributed on NHPR and NHPBS’ platforms during Earth Week 2024. Watch the BY DEGREES CLIMATE SUMMIT 2024 on the PBS App.
“The day was filled with insightful discussions on how our local communities can plan for the future and adapt to a changing climate.”
— Dawn DeAngelis NHPBS VP and Chief Content Officer “
“Thank
you for your wonderful programming.”
— Sarah T.
NHPBS SPARKS THOUGHT-PROVOKING CONVERSATIONS
THE STATE WE’RE IN streamed 43 different programs this year that tackled pressing issues facing the people of New Hampshire. Host and Granite State News Collaborative Director Melanie Plenda led in-depth discussions with knowledgable individuals with diverse perspectives. The program hosted guests that included local business leaders, journalists, educators, scientists and legislators.
THE STATE WE’RE IN facilitated rich and meaningful exchanges that covered numerous topics. “Our team looks to see what Granite Staters are talking about, and our goal is to dig a little deeper on those topics,” said Plenda. “We’ve had thoughtful and engaging discussions on homelessness in the Granite State, youth mental health, New Hampshire gun laws, the housing crisis, food insecurity and local elections, to name a few.”
Viewers can stream THE STATE WE’RE IN online anytime at nhpbs.org/statewerein or on the PBS App.
NHPBS IGNITES CONVERSATION ABOUT CIVICS & CIVILITY
Over 200 attendees filled The Audi in Concord to hear Governor Chris Sununu and former NHPR host Laura Knoy discuss the critical state of civic health and civility in our communities. The event, part of NH Civic’s William W. Treat Lecture series, explored the meaning of good citizenship in today’s world, delving into the importance of understanding civic rights and responsibilities and fostering respectful dialogue, even amidst differing viewpoints.
The conversation addressed fundamental questions: What is civics? What is civility? How can we cultivate both in our society? Adding a crucial perspective, current and past participants in the NH’s Kid Governor program joined the discussion, highlighting the importance of engaging young people in civic learning.
The lecture focused on identifying opportunities to strengthen civic education in New Hampshire and across the nation. Governor Sununu and Laura Knoy led a thought-provoking discussion on how to better equip communities, schools and families to promote civic understanding and civil discourse.
To ensure broad accessibility, New Hampshire PBS partnered with NH Civics to livestream and record the event. This allowed individuals across the state and beyond to engage with this vital conversation.
To watch the full program, visit nhpbs.org/events.
“I’m a big watcher and supporter of NHPBS. ” — Phil W.
“
“The
whole evening was fun. Of course, who does not enjoy an evening with Sara Moulton!”
— a Sara Moulton event particpant
NHPBS BUILDING COMMUNITIES
New Hampshire PBS connected with over 3,000 individuals statewide and beyond, fostering a vibrant community through shared experiences, storytelling and mutual learning. Here are some highlights from our in-person and online events:
• The NHPBS Education and Outreach team connected with over 2,600 people in diverse communities throughout the state by hosting educational events and attending community-led programs. The team offered station tours to Northeast Passage students, attended the Derry Fest at the Derry Public Library, connected with parents and caregivers at the Parent Cafe at the Arlington Street Community Center in Nashua and presented NHPBS and PBS Learning Media to the Christa McAuliffe Transforming, Teaching and Technology Conference in Manchester.
• New Hampshire PBS hosted an event with acclaimed chef Sara Moulton, host of the popular SARA’S WEEKNIGHT MEALS, at LaBelle Winery in Amherst with close to 200 friends. Fans got to meet Sara and learn more about her impressive career, including time as Julia Child’s protégée, executive chef of Gourmet Magazine and host of multiple beloved Food Network shows.
• NHPBS filmed and streamed a conversation between New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult and New Hampshire Poet Laureate Alexandria Peary as they discussed Picoult’s long career as a virtuoso of the human story. The event, Jodi Picoult and the Writing Life: More Than a Good Story, was produced in partnership with NH Humanities.
• Nearly 150 parents, children and caregivers enjoyed a Valentine’s Day-themed skate with the NHPBS Kids Club and Clifford the Big Red Dog at the 8th annual Puppy Love Skate Party, held in February at Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth.
Support for the NHPBS Kids Club PUPPY LOVE SKATE PARTY is provided by Northeast Delta Dental.
NHPBS LEADERSHIP
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2023-2024
Jeffrey D. Gilbert Board Chair
W.J.P. Development, LLC
Edward MacKay Board Vice Chair Retired
Katharine Eneguess Board Secretary Magalloway Consultants
James T. McKim Board Treasurer Organizational Ignition
Howard Brodsky CCA Global Partners
Colleen T. Chen Vertical Ventures Aviation
Marjorie Chiafery Retired
Mark Collin, Past Chair Retired
Liz Evans Cayena Capital Management, LLC
Marilyn Higgins Forest Retired
William Hinkle Eversource NH
Brian Hoffman Retired
Amy LaBelle LaBelle Winery
Lisa Law Law Family Companies
Scott Milne Milne Travel
Kim Mooney Franklin Pierce University
John Morison III Hitchiner Manufacturing
Sean O’Kane Stratögé Partners
Sam Shields Dartmouth Hitchcock Health and The Value Institute
Michael Tanner BAE Systems
Scott Tranchemontagne Montagne Powers
Peter A. Frid NHPBS President and CEO
John Swope Director Emeritus Retired
Katherine Wells Wheeler Director Emeritus Retired
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD
July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024
Dr. Kristen Nevious, Chair Cheshire County
Cheryl Lee Gilbert Rockingham County
Claudia Decker Hillsborough County
Mark Kovacs Rockingham County
Martha M. Madsen Merrimack County
Kent McConnell Strafford County
Pat McDermott Hillsborough County
Lorraine Meyette Hillsborough County
Barbara Nadori Strafford County
Flo Nicolas Hillsborough County
David Nolte Hillsborough County
Glady Olson Carroll County
Sharon Reynolds Strafford County
Gemma Soldati Strafford County
Pelagia Vincent Hillsborough County
